Animal trap



Nov. 11, 1930. T. A. CLARKSON ,1 3

ANIMAL TRAP Filed June 14. 1929 1710112616 kfl. Clarkaon 10 133 55 4%, .j wr

Patented Nov. 11 1930 'IFUN'ITEDVHSTA TE Y PATENT THOMAS A. o ARKson, or nAsnviLLnzTEnnEssEn ANIMA TRAP I Application filed'June 14, 1929. Serial mps'zo ri.

holder, usually in the form of a narrow plate variously equipped to hold the bait. In some traps now on the market the bait holder, is formed with I a spear head projection on which the bait is impaled. In others, the bait holder is formed with :a shallow depression or pocket in which a soft bait, such as cheese, is impressed. Still other more or less efficient bait holders are known.

One object of my present invention is to provide animproved bait holder which will very securely retain the bait thereon, and

without springing the trap. Another object is to provide a bait holder which will render simple. andeasy theapplication .of the bait thereto. .Astill further object of the invention is to provide a combined trigger and bait holder that can be manufactured by simple die punchoperations, that will be of low cost, and that will be adaptable to all forms of animal traps. p

Still other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent to per sons familiar with the art to which the 'invention pertains from the following'detalled description, taken in connection with the ac companying drawings in which I have illustrated slightly differing embodiments of the principle of the invention, and wherein.-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a well known form of'rnousetrap, having my improved trigger andbait holder applied thereto. 1

Fig. 2 isa vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3'is a fragmentary'plan vlew showing a modified form of trigger and bait holder.

Fig.4: is a vertical'longitudinali section taken on the line 4-4: of Fig.3. I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view, illus trating another modification. 1

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section taken onthe line 66 of" Fig. 5.

In one well known type of mouse trap, the.

from athin strip of resilient sheet metal, and" prevent the theft of the bait by the animal stiffness.

Referring first to formx oftheinvention illustrated in Figs. 1 and-2,'10 designates the rectangular base plate, 11 the pivoted jaw frame, 12 the h'elicalspring actuating the jaw bracing the pivot staple 14, and an upstandmg lever catch 17 formed with an aperture 18 to engage with the downwardly offset tip" 13 of the lever 13.

This trigger and bait holder is formedlengthwise of the bait plate 15 is cut'a narrow oblong slot 19, which formsbetween the opposite' sides of said slot a tongue -20. [To stiffen the tongue 20, the latter may be formed throughout approximately the rear longitudinal half thereof-.withan upwardly pressed rib 20, but this latter feature is notindispensable and may be omitted where the metal of the bait plate-possesses considerable The free end orti p of the'tongue 20 is bent downwardly, as clearly shown'at 21in F ig.

plate'1 0 when'thetrap is not set,"at which timethe plate15 lies at a slight elevation above the base "2, to rest on the upper surface of the'base To bait'the trap,the free end of the plated, i 15 is simply depressed by the finger', as shown I in Figs. '1' and 2, to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, thusspac'ing the plate 15.

below the plane of the tongue 20, and a slice of bacon, cheese, or other bait, indicated at B' in ,Fig'." 1,: is readily passed' endwise through the space between the plate and tongue, and'the instant the pressure of the finger isrelieved, the plate-and tongue spring toward'each other, so that-the bait is securely clamped between them." An auxiliary grip on the bait'may'be secured by vforming small.

"depending teeth 22 in thetongue 20, andthe same manner-,as above explained. in con-. .nection 'with Figsx l and 2,.the plate25 and tongue 2.4L normallytlying in. contact: with": eachqioth er, asyshown by 'Ifllll linesinLFig, {1, e and-:ithe rplateif25hbeing depressed by the 7 thumb, orq fin'ger. to the dotted. line position for; the-application of the bait, While; the tongue-2.4I is maintained-r elevated through. the'engagementq of its tipj24iz with. the base plate .10. This construction possesses at least two advantages :1 over 'that;:di sclosed in 'Figs; f1:a-nd2.f InI-thefirst place, a better vquality,offspring metal than that of the plate: 7 may; be employed for the tongueg and inj thejs'eclond place, the ;length-ofi1the tongue is: e not limited-byithefllength oftheipljate, so that the: downwardly bent tip. portion 24'." roan bemade; long enoughtojafford a Wider,

tion of-the bait than is possible in the conopposite sides of the tongue. These teeth are readily formed by simply pricking the metal,

which can be done by the die in the same .op ration that stamps out the trigger and [cuts out'the tongue. v In theform-of {the invention illustrated infFigsL 3 andag thetongue" '24: is not. cut V v 1 and bent toshape from the metal of the, bait h 1U "holder 25 ,butis a separate strip of steelor other "spring met'alfthe rear end'ofvvhich' is attached tothe lplate 25 as by being inq sertednthrougha low upset loop 26 'cut'and' I bent fromjthe plate. 25 in the die operationa- 'Which forms the plate-25; the rear end of the tongue being-l zbentfupwardlyg as shown i at" 24;- to: prevent;the tongue from pulling away.

striiction the b'aitvis applied and gripped in spread of, the-tongue; and plate, for the inser struction shown; inEigs, 1 andi2.

The form oflthe invention illustrated in" {Figs 5; and 6 isjgenerally similar to that shownin Figs. ,1 and l2,"the tongue-"being, I formed integral with the plate but in this construction the bait plate 28 is formed with" v.

agpair; of longitudinal/slits 29," extending; "through the free end'of the zplate ahd ffOrInI, ingbetween them the spring tongue 30. jThe 1' V free; end portion 30 isbent doWnvvardly;form ing the tip 3.0";th8t func'tionslin the'zsamehvay, asth'e tip 2110f Figs. lfjand 2' andthetip 127 s of Figs. 3 and 4, and the free end portions v of the :plate28 :lyijngfon' either side -of ,the. l tongiie 29 are preferably bent upwardly as :7 sho Wn at28;to;formconvenient pointslof ap V .plicatiohof the: fingers ,iivhen applying'thel W'll. of 'the invention illustrated, the bait can be 7 readily slippedl endwisegibetween; the tongue; and the plate-by simply depressing the free, 5 end of thelatter, the tonguebeingmaintainedl tion shown, the teeth being-provided on the; s plate, or on thetongue, or on both. T Further; more,cin-the application of -the' invention to; v. I traps which mayrn ot-employ. a "base plate-,'or

I illustrated. ,1 I v a ing ithroughtthe: slotpof-jsaidrplate to; form-a 1 tion; whereby said-g: plate may be depressed" 7 {below said tongue so thatbait may bejclamp-f. inglyzgeng'aged therebetWeem-saidgplate anfd' beobservedthatin alloftheformsi tongue being-formedawi-thlteeth adapted m:

elevated by the engagement of its depend ing tip with the base plate-ofthe trap, and

the instant the pressure on the plate is relieved the bait plate and tongue spring toward each 1 v other andsecurely grip the bait between-them,

' so that isimpossible for the animal to pull e the 'bait' awayirom its anchorage, and'this spring 'grip of the bait holder on the bait is enhanced' by the cooperating'te-eth which may beeinploy-ed iriall ofthe forms ofthe inven- 1* wherein the freeend of the trigger may over so liangi the endlof the base'plate,.the t g and bait plate can be. spread fonthe inser-i 'i o tion ofthe-baittherebetween bysimplypoim; v pressing the ends ofthe bait plate and tongue;

I between theflthumbandffingerri :Thezinven- 5 tionfis thussapplicable :to other forms o-faanimal traps than the mouse r rat; trap herein" 5 *I"haveherein shown,and described three simple and practical embodiments.- of the-in:- vention, butitsis manifestathat theiprincip'le thereof is capable of: embodiment in still;

other specifically differing r forms, and. hence; 1

I do notllimit'zthei invention tothe-v practicala: 1

forms shown, or toi'itsapplieation toany' par-st. ticular form of animal trap; except to the. extent indicated inspecitie claims, butfreserve all such:variations;modifications, rand xchanically equivalentl constructions; as:v fall I Within theispirit andiipiirviewiot' the claims j "Ii claim a 1 e -1'. Inananimalitrap,.a baitholdingtriggera comprising a bait' plate, and ag spring tongue connected at .oneiendzto"saidplateand having a 'dependingtip .portionzextendingibelow saidl 2. ,Inananimal trap,a

tongue connected at-Lone. end --to'.'sai.d;-plate andiha'vmg azdependingtip portionextends bearingyportionj whereby said; plate 1 maybe depressed belovvsaidton'gueso that gbait'fimay; V be clampingly-engagedtherebetwveen;i o

43:1 Inavan animal trap aibait, holding .t

ing below said plate to form a bearing-p01 .gripa'jbait insertedbetweenftheml, Y a,

4. In a trap of:'lthe;class described,i the.

combination with: a ;base,l ofx,a bait-holding -triggermounteithereon,saidtriggerincliid:

: late to form a bearing portionwherebyfsaid:

3 plate maybe depressed belowlsaid tongue; so?" that bait :may'beuclampingly engaged; there-1=i I 7 between. I, I I

comprising a slottedbait plate,and a spring;v

ing a metal plate hinged to said base, and a spring tongue connected at one end to said 1 plate and having a downwardly turned tip portion extending below said plate adapted to strike said base; whereby, when a free end of said plate is depressed said plate and tongue'are spaced for the lateral insertion of the bait therebetween, and when said plate is released the bait is clamped between said base; whereby, when the free end of said plate is depressed said plate andtongue are spread apart for the lateral insertion of the bait therebetween, and when said plate is released the bait is clamped between said plate and tongue. I j 6. In a trap of the class described, the combination with a base, of a bait-holding trigger mounted thereon, said trigger including a metal plate hinged at one end to said base, and a spring tongue integral at one end with said plate and formed with an integral downwardly turned ti portion extending below said plate and a da tact with said base when the free end of said plate is depressed, whereby to separate said tongue and plate for the lateral insertion of the bait therebetween.

ted longitudinally between itsfree end and its hinge to form a tongue, and said tongue being formed with an integral downwardly, i turned tip portion projecting through the pted to con- 1 p 7. In a trap of the class described,the

combination with a base, of a bait-holding trigger mounted thereon, said trigger including a metal plate hinged at one end to said base, said plate being slotted to form a tongue, and said tongue having a depending tip portion projecting below said plate and adapted to contact with said base when the free end of said plate is depressed, whereby to separate said tongue and plate forthe lateral insertion of the bait therebetween.

8. In a trap of theclass described, the combination with a base, of a bait-holding trigger mounted thereon, said trigger includ ing a metal plate hinged at one end to said base, said plate being slotted longitudinally between its ends to form a tongue, and said tongue being formed with an integral clown- Wardly turned tip portion projecting through the slot of said plate and adapted to contact with said base when the free end of said plate is depressed, whereby to separate said tongue and plate for the lateral insertion of the bait therebetween. V

9. In a trap of the class described, the combination with a base, of a bait-holding trigger mounted thereon, said trigger including a substantially flat metal plate hinged at one end to said base, said plate being slot- 

